Joseph e



(No Model.)

J.E.ERNEST. SLATE CUTTER AND TRIMMER.

No. 533,352. Patented Jan. 5.

WITNESSES IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY.

' bevel along its edges, for the purpose of mak- Enron.

JOSEPH E. ERN

SLATE CUTTER EST, OF FRANKTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF JESSE A. NISWVONGERAND EDXVARD FRANI TWO-THIRDS TO AND TRIMMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,352, dated January29,1895.

Application filed October 24,, l 894.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. ERNEST, a citizen of the United States,residing at Frankton, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slate Cutters andTrimmers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of slate cutters and trimmers bywhich sheets of ordinary roofing slate are cut and trimmed into anydesired shape or size.

The object of my invention is to provide a slate cutter and trimmer thatcan be taken upon the roof by the workmen, when necessary, whereby theslates may be cut and trimmed so as to fit anyirregular portions of theroof, such as fitting around chimneys or in hips or valleys, withoutleaving the roof and the consequent loss of time, to enable the workmento cut the slate with any desired ing a perfect fit and tight jointwhere the edges of the slates meet, as is the case on the ridge or hipof a roof; and a further object is to prevent the breakage and Wasteusually attendant upon cutting and trimming slates by means of theordinary slaters hammer.

To this end, my invention consists, in general, in the constructionshereinafter de scribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims andwill be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,which are made a part hereof, and in which similar letters of referencerefer to similar parts.

Figure 1 is a side view. Fig. 2 is an enlarged, top plan view having aportion of the center broken away. Fig. 3 is a view of the under orcutting edge of a modified form of the cutting bar. Fig. 4. is a sideview of another modification in the form of the cutting bar. Fig. 5 is afront view of the double front legs or feet. Fig. 6 is a back view ofthe single back leg or foot. Fig.7 is a plan view of the thumb-screwused in regulating the left side bar. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the studbolt which carries the cutting bar, and Fig. 9 is avertical sectionalview taken on the line as, w, of Fig. 2.

The cutting bar A, is pivoted between the side bars B and B, upon thebolt e, said bolt securing the cutting barAto the side bar 13,

the side bar B, is brought u Serial No. 526,876. (No model.)

and having the elongated head i, which is adapted to pass through andfit into a circular opening in the side bar B, without binding. Thisagreement permitsof the lateral adjustment of the side bar B, withoutloosening the nut j, on the bolt e, and at the same time gives a bearingfor the head of the bolt and prevents a side strain on the bar B, whenin the act of cutting a slate.

The front legs 0, and the rear leg D, are

. each provided with the upright studs is, which are pierced by theopenings Z, for the reception of the bolts m, which bind the side bars Band B, to the studs in. The legs 0 and D are also provided with agreater projection P, upon one side of the stud it, than on the other,

for the purpose of giving a bearing to the side bar 13, when it isadjusted at a distance from the cutting bar A. The side bar B, isadjusted by means of the bolts m, and the thumb-screws o. Thethumb-screws pass through threaded openings in the side bar B, and pressagainst the studs 76, thereby holding the side bar B, firmly againstthe'heads of the bolts m. The 7 5 side bars B and B are beveled on'theirupper edges, as shown in Fig. 9., The cutting edge of the cutting bar A,has the V shaped groove 3, throughout its entire length, forming sharpedges 15, along the outer sides of the cutting edge of the bar. Thisconstruction of the cutting edge of the cutting bar A, as abovedescribed, facilitates the operation of cutting the slate and makes aclean cut of the width of the cutting bar, leaving the edges of the 8;slate even and regular. In many cases, it

is found desirable to have the edge of the slate cut to a bevel topermit of making a tight joint where the edges of two slates meet; asfor example, the ridge or comb of a building. To meet this requirement,I provide the adjustable side bar B, by means of which any. desiredbevel canbe given to the edgeof the slate. If a straight out is desired,

p against the 5 studs lo, and the nuts of the bolts m, are tightened. Toproduce a bevel, the nuts of said bolts areloosened and the thumb-screwstightened until the side bar B is at a sufficient distance from thecutting bar A, to prorc 0 does the desired bevel on the edge of a slate.The outer end of the cutting bar A, is provided with a suitable handleE, and the inner end h, is of greater thickness than the body, to form abearing for the side bar B, and the head of the bolt e.

In Fig. 3,a modified form of cutting bar is shown in which the inner endof the bar represents the segment of a circle, and is designed forcutting slates in circular form.

Fig. 4, is a modification in which the cutting bar is turned upwardly,instead of straight, as shown in Fig. 1.

Having described my slate cutter and trimmer, what I claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of thecutting bar A, having the V shaped groove S, and cutting edges t, withthe fixed side-bar B, the adjustable sidebar B, said side-bars havingthe beveled upper edges; the adjusting bolts m, the studbolt e, thethumb-screws 0, and the legs 0 and D, having the studs 70, and theprojections 19,

substantially as described.

2. In a slate cutter and trimmer the combination of the legs C, and D,having the projections p, and studs k; and the side-bars B, and B,bolted to the studs is, with the cutting-bar A, having the V shapedgroove S, and sharp edges 15, along its cutting edge, substantially asset forth.

3. The combination in a portable slate cut ter or trimmer having theframe consisting of the legs 0, and D, and the side-bars B, and B,bolted thereto, of the cutting-bar having the V shaped groove S, andcutting edges t, along its lower or cutting edge,substantially as setforth.

JOSEPH E. ERNEST.

Witnesses:

I. M. LANGSTON, A. P. SEACHANGAST.

